Browns pick Mike Pettine as new head coach

CLEVELAND (AP) — After nearly a month of twists, turns and talk, the Browns found their man.

Mike Pettine is Cleveland’s new coach.

Buffalo’s defensive coordinator, who met with team officials for the first time just a week ago, finalized a contract Thursday to become the Browns’ seventh full-time coach since 1999. The team fired Rob Chudzinski on Dec. 29 following one season and embarked on a winding search that ended with Pettine.

“We wanted to be thorough from the start,” CEO Joe Banner said, “and we interviewed as many people as we could. From that group, we hired the best individual for this job. Our players and fans are going to really enjoy Mike Pettine and his leadership style. We’re excited to have him out in front of our team, and we look forward to working closely with him.”

The 47-year-old Pettine, the son of a legendary Pennsylvania high school coach, spent one year with the Bills after four as Rex Ryan’s defensive coordinator with the New York Jets.

With his clean-shaven head and no-nonsense approach, Pettine is popular with players. He’ll inherit a Cleveland team that went 4-12 this season after losing its last seven games.

Pettine emerged as the favorite to become Cleveland’s fourth coach in six years as the Browns eliminated candidates and Denver offensive coordinator Adam Gase, considered the front-runner when the search started, told the team to move on without him.

His hiring ends a 25-day odyssey for the Browns. It was a search filled with rumors, denials, withdrawals and far too much drama for a franchise seeking stability.